Journal of Sport & Tourism

Vol. 12, Nos. 3 – 4, August – November 2007, pp. 183 –206

The Interrelationship between Sport

Event and Destination Image and Sport
Tourists’ Behaviours
Kyriaki Kaplanidou & Christine Vogt

Existing literature suggests that event and destination images could interact to influence
sport tourism behaviours. Within an attitude-behaviour theoretical framework, this paper
proposes and tests a theoretical model examining the interrelationships between sport
event image, destination image, satisfaction with the event, past experience with the
event and destination, intentions to revisit the destination and subsequent behaviours
of sport tourists to revisit. A population of active sport tourists, whose primary trip
purpose was to participate in a sport event, was used to test empirically the proposed
model. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect panel data in two waves
after the event’s completion. Structural equation modelling results showed a significant
impact of event image on destination image but not the opposite. Destination image
and past experience with the destination significantly influenced intentions to revisit
the destination for sport tourism activities, while intentions were a significant predictor
of actual behaviour to revisit a destination for sport tourism activities. Implications for
synergistic approaches are discussed for sport events and destinations.

Keywords: Sport Event Image; Destination Image; Satisfaction; Intentions to Revisit;

Behaviour; Panel Data

Introduction
Destination marketers have focused on hosting sport events as a strategy to enhance des-
tination image and differentiate its tourism products (Chalip & Green, 2001; Chalip
et al., 2003; Dimanche, 2003; Jago et al., 2003; Chalip & McGuirty, 2004). Communities
view the use of sport events as marketing tools that contribute to the future success of
the destination by creating awareness, seeking image improvement, and attracting

Dr Kyriaki Kaplanidou is Assistant Professor at the Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management,
University of Florida, 300 Florida Gym, PO Box 118208, Gainesville, 32611-8208, USA. Dr. Christine Vogt is
Associate Professor at the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resources Studies, Michigan
State University-East Lansing, 131 Natural Resources Building, MI 48824, USA. Email: kkaplanidou@hhp.ufl.edu

ISSN 1477-5085 (print)/ISSN 1029-5399 (online) # 2007 Taylor & Francis

DOI: 10.1080/14775080701736932
184 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
tourism business development to generate future inbound travel (Dimanche, 2003).
Sport events can be part of a set of destination attractions for new and loyal sport con-
sumer markets (Dimanche, 2003). Small local communities that are not widely known
or considered tourism destinations may be impacted positively or negatively by small or
large-scale sport events that attract attendees and participants from state, national and
international levels. Destination images, therefore, can be influenced by the hosting of a
sport event and the attributes associated with the event.
Destinations can impact the image of events as they are the suppliers of the place of
experiences related to the event (Hinch & Higham, 2004). Additionally, the impact of
image on behavioural intentions has been of great importance within the sport man-
agement and tourism literature (e.g. Baloglu, 1999; Bigne et al., 2001; Chalip et al.,
2003). The need to further establish whether intentions are a good proxy measure
of behaviours is also needed in this field.
This paper examines the interrelationship between sport event and destination image
perceptions and their impact on the decision to revisit a destination (behaviour). More
specifically, the research questions this study aims to address are the following:
(a) What is the influence of sport event image on destination image?
(b) What is the influence of destination image on sport event image?
(c) What is the influence of past experience with a sport event and a destination on
images?
(d) Does the interrelationship between destination and event images impact beha-
vioural intentions to revisit a destination for sport tourism activities?
(e) How does satisfaction with the event interact with event and destination images
and how does it influence intentions to revisit the destination for sport tourism
activities?
(f) In the context of sport tourism, are behavioural intentions a significant predictor
of behaviour?

Literature Review
Sport tourism scholars have identified that the field of sport tourism is lacking theor-
etical frameworks explaining sport tourism demand, supply and impacts (Gibson,
2004; Hinch & Higham, 2004; Weed, 2005). Issues related to sport tourism demand
might include the extent to which the behaviour of sport tourists can be predicted,
or the variables that can influence sport tourists to revisit a destination. Most desti-
nations would like to retain repeat visitors since it is harder and more costly to
attract new visitors (Petrick et al., 2001). When active sport tourists, as opposed to
passive and nostalgia sport tourists (Gibson, 1998), decide to revisit a destination as
a result of exposure to an event, a number of variables may influence their decisions.
Social psychology research focusing on predicting consumer behaviours has proposed
that behavioural intentions mediate the impact of attitudes, social norms and
perceived behavioural control (i.e. people’s perceptions of their ability to engage in
a behaviour) on behaviour (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen, 1985). Attitudes are also
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 185

linked to behaviour (Fazio et al., 1989; Fazio, 1990). In the sport and tourism litera-
ture, sport tourists’ behavioural intentions to visit for the first time or revisit a desti-
nation have been found to be influenced by event and destination image perceptions.
More specifically, Woodside & Lysonski (1989), Court & Lupton (1997) and Baloglu
(1999) found that destination image plays an important role when consumers decide
to visit a destination for the first time. Bigne et al. (2001) found destination image to
positively impact re-visitation intentions. In Xing & Chalip’s (2006) study on match-
ing events and destination images, it was found that destination image perceptions
impacted intentions to visit a destination when the event was present in a destination
advertisement and matched the destination image in terms of activity characteristics.
Past experience or past behaviour with an entity or object (in this case the event or
destination) has been found to be a significant predictor of destination image (Hu &
Ritchie, 1993; Milman & Pizam, 1995). Milman & Pizam (1995) found that travellers
who visited a place previously had a more positive destination image than those who
were just aware of the destination. Hu & Ritchie (1993) reported that visitors with
previous experience with a destination had more positive images than non-visitors.
In post-trip contexts, satisfaction has been found to be a significant predictor of re-
visitation intentions (Petrick et al., 2001), and loyalty (Bigne et al., 2005). In an earlier
study by Bigne et al. (2001), however, satisfaction was found to be an insignificant
predictor of re-visitation intentions, which suggests that the relationship between
satisfaction and intentions is uncertain.
The interrelationships of the previously mentioned variables is addressed through
the attitude-behaviour theoretical frameworks found in the social psychology domain
(Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen, 1985; Fazio et al., 1989; Fazio, 1990). Event and
destination image perceptions (which are conceptualized as attitudinal constructs),
past experiences with both the sport event and destination, and satisfaction with
the overall event and destination experience may interact to influence intentions to
revisit a destination and actual subsequent visitation.

Destination Image (DI), Sport Event Image (SEI), and Behaviour

Events and destinations may influence each others’ imagery based on theoretical
approaches that examine the image transfer concept (e.g. Gwinner, 1997; Gwinner
& Eaton, 1999; Xing & Chalip, 2006). The interrelationship between these concepts
needs to be examined within a larger theoretical framework to understand not only
their potential mutual influence but also their impact on consumer behaviours.
Destination image has been defined by cognitive, affective and conative elements
(Gartner, 1993, 1996; Baloglu & McCleary, 1999), which are elements of the attitude
construct (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993). The concept of sport event image is lacking a clear
definition and most work has associated the image of sport events with that of spon-
sors (Ferrand & Pages, 1996; Gwinner, 1997; Gwinner & Eaton, 1999) predominantly
using brand personality scales to measure this concept. These scales consist of
attitudinal semantic differential items such as good-bad and unpleasant-pleasant
(e.g. Ferrand & Pages, 1996).
186 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
The destination image construct has been conceptualized as being holistic or attri-
bute based with cognitive, affective and conative components that may differ from the
sport events’ image. The brand image of the sport event is conceptualized as featuring
attitudinal components based on the theoretical framework proposed by Keller (1993),
who suggested that brand images consist of attitudes, attributes, benefits and costs
toward an entity. Marketing images of the event and destination may therefore
feature different characteristics. For example, marketing sport event images tends to
incorporate elements such as sub-culture associations among participants (Green,
2001) and physical activity components, while marketing of destination images
tends to feature physical or cultural settings. Consequently, the same measure for
event and destination images may not suffice for studying sport tourist behaviours.
Understanding how the event and destination images work together is important.
The theoretical background on co-branding and bundling approaches of a destination
with events (Jago et al., 2003; Xing & Chalip, 2006) suggests that the interrelationship
between event and destination images should be examined in more detail (Chalip &
Green, 2001; Chalip & McGuirty, 2004). Depending on the size of the sport event,
the impacts of the event on the destination may be different. For example, mega
sport events (e.g. Olympic Games) have had both positive and negative impacts on
destination awareness in terms of peak destination awareness, its decay (Ritchie &
Smith, 1991) and its image (Ritchie & Yangzhou, 1987; Hall & Hodges, 1996; Hiller,
1998; Kim & Morrison, 2005; Smith, 2005). Sport events have influenced specific attri-
butes associated with the destination image when advertisements were used as a des-
tination image promoting tool (Chalip & Green, 2001; Chalip et al., 2003). It would be
logical to assume that smaller scale events (e.g. local running events, cycling races) will
have positive and negative impacts on the destination as well. Despite potential nega-
tive impacts of sport event hosting, more and more destinations compete and bid for
sport events mainly because sport events have predominately been identified as posi-
tive influences on the marketing of destinations (Jago et al., 2003; Xing & Chalip,
2006). Previous studies have suggested that the image of the event can influence des-
tination image perceptions when the event image is considered a fit with the destina-
tion image (Jago et al., 2003; Chalip & McGuirty, 2004; Xing & Chalip, 2006).
Although obtaining a fit between events and destinations is one objective for event
and destination marketers, the quantification of the impact of a sport event’s image on
a destination’s image is another one. Smaller scale sport events, in particular, have not
been studied as to whether they bring significant positive or negative impacts on the
image of the hosting destination. Given the predominantly positive impact reported in
various event studies, it was expected prior to this study that the image of a small scale
sport event will positively impact the destination image.
Examining the impact of destination image on event image, Xing & Chalip (2006)
reported a transfer of image between destinations and events, suggesting that the
impact of destination image on event image could be considerable. The impact of des-
tination image on event image was not quantified in the Xing & Chalip (2006) study
since its goal was to test the match between event and destination images. For success-
ful destination branding, marketers need to better understand how destination images
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 187

impact upon the image of the events they are hosting. Since co-branding requires a
mutual positive interrelationship between event and destination images, the hypoth-
esis for this study is that the image of a destination will positively influence the image
of a sport event. Research has also supported the positive impacts of destination image
on intentions to revisit a destination (Bigne et al., 2001; Kaplanidou, 2007). Conse-
quently, the following hypotheses will be tested:
H1: Event image will positively influence the image of the destination;
H2: Destination image will positively influence the image of the event; and
H3: Destination image will positively influence intentions to travel to the destination to
participate in sport tourism activities.

The Role of Past Experience with Events (PEE) and Past Visitation Behaviour
with Destinations (PVD)
Past experience has been shown to play an important role in attitude-behaviour the-
ories (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993). Gwinner (1997) proposed that the image of a sport
event may be influenced by previous experiences with the event. Hagger et al.
(2002) emphasized the need to include past behaviour in the Theory of Planned
Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) as an important variable for the predictive validity of the
Theory of Planned Behaviour model. Hagger et al.’s (2002) study found that past
behaviour was a strong predictor of attitudes towards physical activity and intentions
to be active. Cunningham & Kwon (2003) found past game attendance behaviour was
a significant predictor of spectator intentions to attend a game, controlling for race,
perceived behavioural control, subjective norms and attitudes.
Research in the tourism field indicates that previous experience with a destina-
tion impacts intentions to return to a destination (Perdue, 1985; Mazursky, 1989;
Milman & Pizam, 1995; Sonmez & Graefe, 1998; Kozak, 2001; Petrick et al.,
2001). One explanation for the influence of past experience on intentions to
return to the destination is that destination choice is perceived as less risky. Gitel-
son & Crompton (1984) indicated that past destination experience reduces the risk
from potential unsatisfactory experiences. Furthermore, Baloglu (2001) found fam-
iliarity (as a function of past visitation experience and informational familiarity)
positively influenced destination image, which supports similar findings by
Milman & Pizam (1995) and Fakeye & Crompton (1991). Other studies showed
that previous experience influenced more positively specific attributes of the desti-
nation image such as outdoor recreation (Ahmed, 1996) and destination attractive-
ness (Hu & Ritchie, 1993). Chon (1991) reported differences between non-visitors
and visitors for safety, scenic beauty, shopping and general attitudes toward the
destination.
Destination image can be influenced before and during a trip (Vogt & Andereck,
2003). Visitation experience with the destination creates a more realistic image
compared with images held before visiting (Gunn, 1972; Gartner, 1989). Additionally,
previous visits can result in more affective destination image perceptions (Dann, 1996;
Baloglu & Brinberg, 1997). Other studies have found no significant influence of prior
188 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
visitation on a destination’s image (Hunt, 1975; Chen & Kerstetter, 1999). Most of the
studies, however, have shown support for the positive effect of prior visitation on des-
tination image. Therefore, based on the reviewed literature, the following hypotheses
will be tested:
H4: Past visits to the destination will positively influence the destination image;
H5: Past experience with the sport event will positively influence the event image; and
H6: Past visits to the destination will positively influence intentions to revisit the desti-
nation for sport tourism activities.

Satisfaction and Intentions

While satisfaction is often not included in attitude-behaviour theoretical models,
testing its impact on active sport tourists’ behaviour in a post-consumption context
is important. In the tourism literature, satisfaction has been a strong predictor of
behavioural intentions in the post-trip phase (Baker & Crompton, 2000; Bigne
et al., 2001; Rittichainuwat et al., 2002; Lee et al., 2004) when individuals evaluate
overall trip experiences (Chon, 1989). Satisfaction is expected, therefore, to positively
influence the behavioural intentions to revisit a destination to participate in sport
tourism activities. Destination image has been found to positively influence overall
satisfaction with the trip (Bigne et al., 2001). Similarly, it is expected that sport
event image will positively influence satisfaction with a sport event. Therefore, in
relation to satisfaction, the following hypotheses will be tested:
H7: Satisfaction with the event will positively influence behavioural intentions to revisit
the destination for sport tourism activities;
H8: The sport event image will positively influence satisfaction with the event; and
H9: The destination image will positively influence satisfaction with the event.

Intention– Behaviour Link

The link between intentions and behaviour has been examined via meta-analyses
(Sheppard et al., 1988; Hagger et al., 2002) of theoretical frameworks such as the
theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) and the theory of planned beha-
viour (Ajzen, 1991). The results of these meta-analyses provide mixed results regard-
ing the intention-behaviour link. Hagger et al. (2002) found a small, but significant
impact of intentions toward physical activity to actual behaviour, while Sheppard
et al. (1988) found that the intention – behaviour relationship was influenced by the
type of activity. In a sport and tourism context, the link between intentions and beha-
viour has not yet been empirically tested, therefore this study will test whether inten-
tions predict subsequent sport tourist re-visitation behaviour. This proposition leads
to the final hypothesis:
H10: Intentions will positively influence sport tourist behaviour to revisit the destina-
tion to participate in sport tourism activities.
Figure 1 summarizes and presents the hypotheses tested with this study.
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 189

Method
Event Description
This study tests linkages between attitudinal and behavioural constructs addressing
event and destination image attributes for participating sport tourists. The event that
was selected to test these linkages was a week-long amateur bicycling event. The event
took place along trails in a Midwest US state and had two ‘legs.’ The first leg was a
two-day bicycling tour. It covered a distance of approximately 35 miles per day, and
attracted largely novice riders. The two-day leg included a night’s stay in a community
considered to be a tourism destination. The second leg was five days, included accom-
modations along the designated route, covered approximately 320 miles, and attracted
largely seasoned riders. The event occurs annually and has been staged for the past 11
years as an event that promotes trails and raises funds for the sponsoring non-profit
organization. The event’s route and the associated tourism destinations are different
each year but the event remains within the boundaries of the state.
The destination studied in this research was the community hosting the overnight
stay in the first leg of the tour. The destination is situated on the Great Lakes and has a
population of about 5,000 residents according to the latest census. Participants had the
option to spend the night in facilities provided by the event organizers (i.e. camp
ground) or could choose to stay in other accommodations. The participants had a
half-day to experience the tourist attractions in the nearby area.

Figure 1 Model testing the interrelationship between SEI, DI, PEE, PVD, satisfaction,
intentions and behaviour.
190 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
Procedures
Since one of the objectives of this research was to test the link between images, inten-
tions and behaviours, two survey rounds were performed. The first round was shortly
after the event and aimed to record image perceptions and intentions of the partici-
pants to return to the destination. Data on actual behaviour were collected during a
second survey round approximately one year later.

First Survey
The study’s population was active sport tourists who registered and paid for either the
two-day or seven-day bicycling tour. The contact information for the population
(N ¼ 981) was obtained from the event organizers at the beginning of October
2005. The statistical analysis of this study required independent observations, which
led to the refinement of the population to study households (N ¼ 720) and not indi-
viduals (one person per household was selected randomly). The measurement instru-
ment for the first survey round was a self-administered four-page questionnaire. A
modified Dillman (2000) mailing procedure was used excluding the pre-notice
letter and a final third contact by certified mail. Seven-hundred-and-twenty (720)
questionnaires were mailed on 1 November 2005 along with a detailed personalized
cover letter. One week later, a reminder postcard was mailed to the entire sample to
thank those who already responded and to remind non-respondents that their
responses were important to the research project. Two weeks after the postcard a
second mailing to the non-respondents occurred. To achieve a high response rate,
an incentive was offered to the recipients of the questionnaires. The incentive was
the chance to win one of two $50 discounts from next year’s event. The modified
Dillman survey administration method yielded a satisfactory response rate
(n ¼ 495, 70.3%) minimizing the potential impact of non-response error. Non-
response bias checks were performed between respondents and non-respondents on
demographic data and no significant differences between the two groups were found.

Second Survey
Behavioural data were collected approximately a year after the 2005 sport event. In
October 2006, a follow-up, two-page questionnaire mailing was conducted with
those individuals (n ¼ 495) who responded to the 2005 survey. Two mailing rounds
were performed for the 2006 follow-up survey following the same survey procedures
as in 2005. Three-hundred-and-forty-four (344) individuals responded to the follow-
up survey, yielding a response rate of 87%.

Sample Profile
The sample’s primary purpose of the trip was to attend the sport event. The sample
consisted of 54% males and 46% females. The average age of the sample respondents
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 191

was 50 years old. Most of the respondents (91%) came from the state where the event
took place. The household income distribution of the respondents featured 47% above
$80,000, 21% between $60,000– $79,999, 19% between $40,000 –$59,000, and 13%
below $39,999.

Measurement
Sport event image was measured with a scale created for this study following DeVel-
lis’s (2003) scale development approach. Focus groups were initially conducted to
begin the scale development process for item generation. The focus group
members were participants from the actual event and a Midwest US university
cycling club. From focus group scripts, a set of initial items (41) were created.
Next, the items were reviewed by two tourism researchers and a convenient
sample of active sport tourists (n ¼ 44) for face validity. The pilot subjects were
requested to provide comments about the clarity of each item and its relationship
to the concept of image and rate the item on a seven-point scale based on experi-
ences they had from a sport event they participated in during the past year. Based
on the pilot subjects’ comments, a pool of 28 items (out of the initial 41) were
retained for inclusion in the scale. A subsequent exploratory factor analysis of the
28 items (using the study’s sample data) produced a four-factor solution with eigen-
values equal to or greater than one. The first factor had an eigenvalue of 8.0 and
explained most of the variance in the latent factor of event image (29%). The
second factor had an eigenvalue of 2.0 and explained 9% of the variance in event
image. The third factor had an eigenvalue of 1.4 and explained 8% of the variance
and the fourth factor had an eigenvalue of 1.12 and explained another 8% of the
variance in event image. The first factor had a high Cronbach’s alpha reliability coef-
ficient (a ¼ 0.92) compared with the rest of the extracted factors, which had
reliability Cronbach’s a coefficients less than 0.57. The items that loaded on the
first factor captured the qualitative aspects identified by the focus group data analy-
sis. This first factor consisted of 13 seven-point semantic differential items and based
on the qualitative data analysis and the reliability analysis it was retained for the
model evaluation phase.
The 13-item event image scale was further tested for discriminant and conver-
gent validity (construct validity dimensions) with the survey data. To test for the
discriminant validity of the scale, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using the
measurement model, was conducted to estimate how the sport event image con-
struct correlates with the rest of the constructs. The results supported the discrimi-
nant validity of the scale. Low correlation coefficients were observed between sport
event image and intentions (r ¼ 0.17) and sport event image and past experience
with the destination (r ¼ 20.05), which are variables that semantically should
not correlate highly with the event image.
Convergent validity of the event image construct was evaluated by incorporating
into the survey questionnaire a brand personality scale by Aaker (1997) ‘to determine
192 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
1) the extent to which the measure correlates with other measures designed to measure
the same thing, and 2) whether the measure behaves as expected’ (Churchill, 1979,
p. 70). This scale was chosen because brand personality is considered to be associated
with brand image (Aaker, 1997). Another CFA was conducted between the two con-
cepts and the results revealed a significant correlation between the sport event
image and the brand personality scale (r ¼ 0.59, p , 0.05), which supports the con-
vergent validity of the sport event image construct.
Destination image scales were derived from previous studies (for a review see
Gallarza et al., 2002) and a review of the destination’s promotional material (i.e.
destination travel guide, website). These destination image scales included a set
of 17 cognitive and five affective items (see Table 1 for a description of all
measures). The cognitive items involved destination attributes and were measured
on a seven-point Likert scale. The set of affective items used in this study was
based on previous destination image formation and measurement studies (e.g.
Baloglu & Brinberg, 1997; Baloglu & McCleary, 1999), which were originally
derived from studies on the affective meaning of the environment (Russell &
Pratt, 1980; Russell et al., 1981).
Past experience with the sport event was measured with one open-ended item,
which asked the respondents about the frequency of their participation in the event.
Past visitation to the destination was measured with two open-ended items, which
asked the respondents about the frequency of visiting the destination during the
past five years for either vacation reasons or to participate in a sport event. Intentions
were measured with three seven-point Likert items asking participants about the like-
lihood of return to the destination in the following two years to participate in a sport
or recreation activity, take a vacation, or ride the nearby trails where the event was
staged. Satisfaction measures included three seven-point Likert items that asked
respondents to express their satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the condition of the
biking trails and the overall event experience. On the 2006 follow-up survey round,
subsequent behaviour was measured with two ordinal items that asked the respon-
dents about the number of times they used a bike trail in the past 12 months that
was part of the event and the number of vacations trips they took to the destination
area for any purpose or activity. These items were derived from Ajzen & Driver’s
(1992) study testing the Theory of Planned Behaviour to measure the link between
intentions and leisure behaviour.

Data Analysis
The purpose of the model evaluation was to test the fit of the model to the data and
the significance of the proposed paths between sport event image, destination
image, satisfaction with event experience, past behaviour with both event and des-
tination, intentions to return to the destination, and actual subsequent visitation
behaviour. The fit of the model was estimated using structural equation modelling
(SEM) with SPSS 12.1 and EQS 6.1.
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 193

Table 1 Variables Utilized in the Model Testing

Variables Items-scale Description of items

Destination 17 cognitive seven-point How much did the destination offer you during
image (DI): Likert scale type items your stay? Answers ranged from ‘offers very
cognitive little’ to ‘offers very much’ on various items
such as suitable accommodations, good quality
restaurants, beaches, interesting historical
attractions, beautiful scenery, great museums.
DI –affective five seven-point semantic Exciting-gloomy, unpleasant,-pleasant,
differential items arousing-sleepy, distressing-relaxing,
unfriendly-friendly
Sport event image 13 seven-point semantic Unfulfilling Fulfilling
(SEI) differential scale type Stimulating (R ) Unstimulating
items Poor Excellent
Sad Joyful
Healthy (R) Unhealthy
Boring Exciting
Gloomy Cheerful
Valuable (R) Worthless
Ugly Beautiful
Distressing Relaxing
Unadventurous Adventurous
Inspiring (R) Uninspiring
Unsupportive Supportive
Satisfaction three seven-point Likert How satisfied were you with the 2005 event on
scale items (extremely the condition of the trail, the overall event
dissatisfied-extremely experience and the condition of other trails
satisfied) part of the event.
Past participation one open-ended item Times participated in the event
with the sport
event (PPE)
Past visits to two open-ended items Number of times visited destination for vacation
destination in past 5 years,
(PVD) Number of times visited destination area to
participate in a sport tourist event
Intentions three seven-point Ride the xxx trail in the next two years
Likert scale type items Visit destination for vacation in the next two
years
Extremely unlikely- Visit destination area to participate in a sport/
extremely likely recreation activity in the next two years
Behaviour two five point ordinal During the past 12 months how many times did
scale items you use the xxx trail?
0 times, 1 –2 times, 3 –4 During the past 12 months how many vacation
times, 4 –5 times, trips did you take to the destination area?
more than five

The initial questionnaire items are presented in the table before factor analysis procedures, which are
described in the results section of this paper. After factor analysis and CFA procedures the model
tested in this study utilized two cognitive and one affective items to measure destination image, which
were estimated from the mean score of each of the factor items.

Reverse coded items.
194 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
Analysis Procedures
To test the hypotheses, several statistical methods and procedures were used. The stat-
istical analysis followed a three-step process. The first step involved data management
and reduction techniques. Initially, the distribution of the variables was checked for
non-normality patterns and outliers were removed from three variables. Factor analy-
sis for the destination image construct was performed using principal component
extraction and oblique rotation methods to identify underlying dimensions. Next,
the items composing the uni-dimensional (for this set of data) event image scale (as
previously discussed in the measurement section) were parcelled to form three indi-
cators. Parcels are total scores—or linear composites—across a set of homogeneous
factors for those items composing each of the latent factors after exploratory factor
analysis has indicated their uni-dimensionality. As such, uni-dimensionality is a pre-
requisite for parceling (Kline, 2005). Parcels increase the stability of parameter esti-
mates, improve the variable-to-sample-size ratio, remedy small sample sizes and
reduce measurement error (Holt, 2004). Parcels create indicators with better distri-
bution properties and better approximation to the normal distribution (Bandalos &
Finney, 2001). Parceling was done by placing every fourth item of the one dimension
factor into groups, which resulted in three parcels. The 13th item was included in the
last parcel as the remaining item from the selection process. Parcels are supposed to
have very similar reliability coefficients with the individual items. Reliability analysis
was estimated and parcels featured the same reliability coefficient (a ¼ 0.92) with
the individual items as required in SEM literature (Bandalos & Finney, 2001).
The second step involved the two-step modelling approach (Anderson & Gerbing,
1988). More specifically, the model is specified as a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)
measurement model. The CFA model is then analysed to determine whether it fits the
data with the aim of finding an acceptable CFA model (Kline, 2005). As a result, testing
and evaluation of the measurement model through a confirmatory factor analysis was
conducted. The loadings of the items were evaluated and the factor structure (i.e. the
items composing each factor) was retained or dropped accordingly to prepare for the
testing of the structural models. More details on the CFA model are provided in the
results section.
The second part of the two-step modelling approach of the structural equation
model evaluation analysed data based on the multivariate distribution assumption
and tested the hypothesized relationships simultaneously (Kline, 2005). This step of
the modelling approach also provided means for assessing and modifying the theor-
etical models (Anderson & Gerbing, 1988).
All analyses were performed using listwise covariance matrices utilizing the
maximum likelihood estimation method. Listwise analysis provides more powerful
results compared with pairwise covariance matrices analysis (Kline, 2005). The rec-
ommendations of Raykov et al. (1991) and Klem, (2000) were followed to report
the goodness-of-fit measures (normed fit index, NFI; non-normed fit index, NNFI;
and comparative fit index, CFI). One widely used misfit index was also reported:
the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). Fit indices that exceeded
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 195

0.90 and RMSEA misfit indices at or below 0.06 are considered to indicate good or
acceptable fit (Hu & Bentler, 1999). Large sample sizes tend to produce a statistically
significant x2. In SEM, the desired result for x2 for a model to have a good fit to the
data should not be a significant estimate. Although the x2 values are not valuable fit
indicators, they are still mentioned in the results section for information purposes.
The significance and the magnitude of the path estimates were also examined. The
path estimates are presented in standardized form (regression coefficients, i.e. betas)
to make meaningful comparisons (despite the variable’s metric type) among them.

Results
Factor Analysis
The latent variable of destination image was conceptualized as a second-order factor
comprising cognitive and affective items based on a study by Kim & Yoon (2003),
which built on previous destination image studies (e.g. Baloglu & McCleary, 1999;
Gallarza et al., 2002). To explore the dimensions underlying the cognitive and affective
aspects of destination image, exploratory factor analysis was used allowing for factors
to correlate and reflect the second-order latent factor of destination image. Four under-
lying dimensions of destination image were found using principal component analysis
with oblique rotation and eigenvalues equal or greater to one. These factors were
similar to the findings of Baloglu & McCleary (1999). The four factors were titled
‘environment’ (seven items, a ¼ 0.86, eigenvalue ¼ 7.80 rotated, rotated variance
explained ¼ 6%), ‘infrastructure’ (six items a ¼ 0.66, eigenvalue ¼ 2.17 rotated,
rotated variance explained ¼ 5%), ‘historical attractions’ (two items, a ¼ 0.66,
eigenvalue ¼ 1.40 rotated, rotated variance explained ¼ 3%) and ‘affective’ (five items,
a ¼ 0.84, eigenvalue ¼ 1.32 rotated, rotated variance explained ¼ 5%). The mean for
each of the factors was estimated (sum all the variables and divide by the number of
items) to form three new variables for the cognitive aspect of the destination image
and one item for the affective aspect of the destination image. These four new variables
were included in the estimation of the measurement and structural models. An
additional step taken in this process was to perform an exploratory factor analysis on
the affective items to test whether these items form more than one dimension, as
evident in earlier research (Russell & Pratt, 1980; Russell et al., 1981; Kaplanidou,
2007). Principal components analysis using varimax rotation (to test for independent
sub dimensions) with eigenvalues equal to or greater than one were used in the factor
analysis. The results revealed one factor with an eigenvalue ¼ 3.17, which explained
63% of the variance in the latent construct of affective destination image.

Measurement Model
The measurement model results revealed a good fit of the model to the data. All fit
indices, were above 0.95 except for NFI, providing evidence of good fit of the
model to the data (NFI ¼ 0.89, NNFI ¼ 0.96, CFI ¼ 0.96). The chi square for this
196 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
model was x2 ¼ 204.63, df ¼ 149, RMSEA was 0.04 with the 90% confidence interval
between 0.04 and 0.06. A review of the item loadings for each factor showed there was
one item that did not load sufficiently (loading cut-off criterion was 0.50) on the des-
tination image factor. A decision was made to drop that item before proceeding with
the structural model analysis. After dropping that item, the model was re-estimated
and the results showed a better fit to the data (NFI ¼ 0.99, NNFI ¼ 0.99,
CFI ¼ 0.99, RMSEA ¼ 0.05). The chi-square value for the re-estimated measurement
model was x2 ¼ 166.07, df ¼ 100. Table 2 depicts the factor loadings of the re-esti-
mated measurement model.

Structural Equation Model: Goodness of Fit Indices

To test the fit of the proposed model, a non-recursive structural equation model was
estimated utilizing cross-sectional data (Wong & Law, 1999). The model includes: one
independent variable, one exogenous (independent) factor and five endogenous
(dependent) factors. A table of correlations among the model variables, means and
standard deviations (SD) is presented in Table 3.
The results for non-recursive SEM model are depicted in Figure 2. The EQS
maximum likelihood solution revealed that the model had a good fit to the data.
All fit indices, except for the NFI, were above 0.90, providing evidence of good fit
of the model to the data (NFI ¼ 0.89, NNFI ¼ 0.93, CFI ¼ 0.95). RMSEA was 0.06
with the 90% confidence interval between 0.05 and 0.07. The chi-square value for
this model was x2 ¼ 202.21, df ¼ 110.
Table 4 provides the summary of goodness of fit indices for both the measurement
and the structural equation model. The model explained 38% of the variance in inten-
tions to travel to the destination to participate in sport activities (R 2 ¼ 0.38), 39% of

Table 2 Measurement Model CFA Factor Loadings

Factor items Standardized beta Error R2

SEI-item 1 0.90 0.43 0.80

SEI-item 2 0.89 0.45 0.79
SEI-item 3 0.89 0.44 0.80
Satisfaction with the event-item 1 0.69 0.72 0.48
Satisfaction with the event-item 2 0.73 0.68 0.53
Satisfaction with the event-item 3 0.54 0.84 0.29
DI_cognitive item 1 0.85 0.52 0.73
DI_cognitive item 2 0.71 0.69 0.52
DI_affective item 3 0.67 0.74 0.45
Past visitation destination-item 1 0.85 0.51 0.73
Past visitation destination-item 2 0.77 0.63 0.60
Intentions-item 1 0.71 0.70 0.51
Intentions-item 2 0.84 0.54 0.70
Intentions-item 3 0.85 0.51 0.73
Behaviour_item 1 0.61 0.79 0.36
Behaviour item 2 0.99 0.06 0.99
Table 3 Correlations, Means and SD among Model’s Variables
PEE_1 SAT_1 SAT_2 SAT_3 I_1 I_2 I_3 PVD_1 PVD_2 SEI_1 SEI_2 SEI_3 DI_1 DI_2 DI_3 B_1 B_2

PEE_1 1
SAT_1 0.09 1
SAT_2 0.05 0.49 1
SAT_3 0.17 0.43 0.49 1
I_1 0.06 0.20 0.07 0.09 1
I_2 20.07 0.09 0.09 0.07 0.53 1
I_3 0.01 0.12 20.02 0.09 0.57 0.73 1
PVD_1 0.10 20.01 20.01 20.06 0.26 0.36 0.28 1
PVD_2 0.24 20.02 20.06 0.02 0.26 0.21 0.30 0.56 1
SEI_1 0.10 0.34 0.43 0.30 0.18 0.18 0.13 20.00 0.04 1
SEI_2 0.08 0.36 0.46 0.31 0.20 0.16 0.13 0.04 0.02 0.79 1
SEI_3 0.13 0.29 0.33 0.22 0.22 0.12 0.14 20.01 20.00 0.82 0.79 1
DI_1 0.00 0.21 0.23 0.19 0.14 0.21 0.13 0.09 0.06 0.47 0.47 0.37 1
DI_2 0.02 0.14 0.20 0.16 0.14 0.23 0.17 0.09 0.05 0.33 0.32 0.29 0.67 1

Journal of Sport & Tourism

DI_3 20.00 0.25 0.16 0.19 0.22 0.39 0.30 0.14 0.13 0.43 41 0.41 49 0.42 1
B_1 0.05 0.00 0.04 0.01 0.23 0.05 20.01 0.09 0.13
20.02 0.05 0.00 0.07 0.04 0.02 1
B_2 20.10 0.01 0.03 20.06 0.16 0.17 0.09 0.31 0.19 0.03 0.09 0.02 0.09 0.09 0.07 0.43 1
Mean 4.34 6.06 6.02 5.25 4.41 4.13 3.96 0.89 0.53 6.32 6.13 6.07 5.95 5.55 5.49 0.30 0.61
SD 3.84 .91 .99 1.31 1.61 1.62 1.54 1.45 0.95 0.56 0.65 0.59 0.62 0.59 0.59 0.25 0.45


p , 0.05;  p , 0.01.

197
198 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt

Figure 2 Path estimates derived from model testing.

the variance on destination image (R 2 ¼ 0.39) and 40% of the variance on satisfaction
(R 2 ¼ 0.40). A small amount (R 2 ¼ 0.07) of the variance in behaviour to revisit the
destination was explained by the proposed model. Past experience with the sport
event and destination image explained 24% of the variance in the sport event image
(R 2 ¼ 0.24), a surprising result given the insignificant predictors of sport event image.
The structural model also depicts the item loadings for each factor, which were
similar to the measurement model. This is a positive indication regarding the
measurement part of the model because it is not indicative of interpretational con-
founding (which means that the empirical definitions of the constructs change
based on the structural model) (Kline, 2005).

Table 4 Summary of goodness of fit indices for measurement and structural models
n x2 df p NFI NNFI CFI RMSEA

Measurement model 239 166.07 100 0.000 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.05
Structural model 239 202.21 110 0.000 0.89 0.93 0.95 0.06
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 199

Model Path Estimates

The results of the analysis supported six out of the ten hypotheses. More specifically,
the first hypothesis (H1), indicating that the image of a sport event positively influ-
ences the image of the destination that is hosting the event, was supported
(b ¼ 0.71, p , 0.05). The path estimate from sport event image to destination
image was strong, which indicates the importance of the influence of event image
on destination image. The second hypothesis (H2), stating that the destination
image impacts the image of the sport event, was not supported (b ¼ 20.18,
p . 0.05). The third hypothesis (H3), stating that the destination image will impact
intentions to return to the destination to participate in sport activities, was supported
(b ¼ 0.25, p , 0.05). The fourth hypothesis (H4) related to the impact of past experi-
ence (visits) to destination image was supported (b ¼ 0.15, p , 0.05). The impact of
past experience with the sport event on SEI was insignificant (b ¼ 0.10, p . 0.05). As
a result, the fifth hypothesis (H5) was not supported. Intentions to return to the des-
tination to participate in sport activities was predicted by past experience with the des-
tination (b ¼ 0.50, p , 0.05) supporting H6, but not from satisfaction (b ¼ 0.10,
p . 0.05) which did not support H7. Satisfaction was significantly influenced by
SEI (b ¼ 0.55, p , 0.05) supporting H8 but not from destination image (b ¼ 0.12,
p . 0.05), which did not support H9. Finally, intentions significantly predicted beha-
viour (b ¼ 0.27, p , 0.05) supporting H10 but the variance explained in behaviour
was not large (R 2 ¼ 0.07).

Discussion
This study tested a model featuring the reciprocal impact of sport event image (SEI)
and destination image (DI) and their interrelationships with past event experience,
past destination experience, and satisfaction with the event. Furthermore, this study
tested whether intentions to revisit the destination are predicted by destination
image, satisfaction with the event, and past visitation to the destination; and
whether intentions can predict sport tourist behaviour in revisiting the destination
for sport tourism activities. All these variables are presented in a theoretical model
that relies on attitude-behaviour theoretical frameworks. Studies on spectators’ per-
ceptions have shown support for the positive impact of sport events on the image
of destinations (Ritchie & Yangzhou, 1987; Ritchie & Smith, 1991; Bieger et al.,
2003; McCartney, 2005). The results of this study support the positive impact of
SEI on destination image but surprisingly do not show influence of destination
image on sport event image. This finding, albeit surprising, suggests a number of
implications for destination image marketing (discussed in the next section under
implications for practice). Furthermore, past experience with the event did not signifi-
cantly influence sport event image. The image of the event positively influenced sat-
isfaction levels with the event, but, surprisingly, satisfaction with the event did not
significantly influence intentions to revisit the destination for sport activities. Destina-
tion image along with past experience with the destination were significant predictors
200 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
of intentions to revisit the destination. Finally, intention to revisit the destination was
a significant predictor of actual behaviour, but not much variance was explained by its
impact on behaviour.

Implications for Theory

The results of this study suggest that after an event is completed, destination image
may not play a significant role in the way the event image is formed in the consumers’
mind. This point raises a question regarding active sport tourist behaviour: does the
image of the destination matter in the evaluation phase of the event consumption
process? Although previous research supports the interrelationships between event
and destination image in the pre-trip context, often based on advertisement percep-
tions (e.g. Xing & Chalip, 2006), the results of this study underline the power of
events as destination image formation agents but undermine the power of destination
images as event image formation agents in the post-trip context.
In this study, both the event and destination were of a smaller scale and the event
did not happen in the same place every year. Theoretically, it seems feasible that vari-
ables such as size of event (Gwinner, 1997) and destination as well as stability (event
re-occurrence) in destination hosting may influence the way destination image
impacts the event’s image. Small-scale events are viable tourism marketing solutions
for communities that rely on tourism as economic activity. For the active sport tourists
of this study, destination image does not seem to have an influence on the image of the
sport event in the post-trip phase. This result supports the use of events as destination
image formation agents and tourism stimulators because sport tourists are driven to
the destination primarily due to the event. Jago et al. (2003) acknowledged community
support, and a good strategic and cultural fit of the event with the destination as
necessary requirements for building events into destination branding approaches.
The image of the event appears to be a key factor in generating a more positive desti-
nation image and higher re-visitation behaviour.
Despite previous research support for the satisfaction-intention link (Baker &
Crompton, 2000; Bigne et al., 2001; Rittichainuwat et al., 2002; Lee et al., 2004) this
association was not supported in this study. Satisfaction, however, should not be dis-
counted from future model conceptualization in predicting intentions in the post-trip
phase. Potentially, another variable related to satisfaction with destination services
(e.g. service quality) could be added to the model to increase it predictive power.
Active sport tourists’ past experiences with the sport event did not influence the
image of the event. This result presents challenges for theories and studies, which pos-
tulate that past experience or past behaviour has been found to have significant influ-
ences on attitudes (Hagger et al., 2002). Potentially, the link between sport event image
and past event experience would be significant for recurring events in the same desti-
nation. Consequently, behavioural models for active sport tourists should probably
include or exclude past experiences with the event according to the nature of the
event: e.g. recurring event – same place, recurring event –different place, and one
time sport event. On the contrary, past experience with the destination was a significant
 Journal of Sport & Tourism 201

predictor of destination of and intentions to revisit the destination. This finding is sup-
ported by previous research both in sport and tourism domains (Petrick et al., 2001;
Cunningham & Kwon, 2003) and should be considered in models testing interrelation-
ships between event and destination images and intentions.
The theoretical contribution of this study is also in the link between intentions and
behaviour within the sport tourism context. The results of this study revealed inten-
tions to be a significant predictor of behaviour. Although the result agrees with pre-
vious literature from studies utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviour in the
domain of leisure (Ajzen & Driver, 1992; Hrubes et al., 2001), caution should be
used with the interpretation of the results as intentions did not explain much of the
variance in behaviour. Consequently, actual behaviour could be influenced by other
variables such as perceived behavioural control (Ajzen & Driver, 1992).
In conclusion, when events are the point of attraction to a destination, as proposed
with this study, then behaviour can be indirectly influenced by intentions, past experi-
ence with the destination, destination image and sport event image.

Implications for Practice

Destination marketers are encouraged to project the event’s images in their pro-
motional material to benefit from the impact the event can bring about on the desti-
nation image and from its indirect impact on intentions to revisit. Both theoretical
approaches and empirical results suggest that synergy in promotional and organiz-
ational efforts should be a necessary component of sport tourism planning and desti-
nation development. Sport events can be the major attraction for sport tourists to visit
a destination. Destination marketers and suppliers of the tourism experience can capi-
talize on the visitors’ exposure to the destination by offering and promoting quality
products and services in association with the event’s image. The image of these
tourism products could be in conjunction with visitor destination image perceptions
and event images. Each destination should identify and understand its imagery, which
can be derived by both visitor and resident images (Bramwell & Rawding, 1996).
Synergistic marketing approaches between destination marketers and event organizers
can be supported on a long-term basis when recurring events are pursued by the des-
tination (McCartney, 2005) and where the event image can be significantly influenced
by destination image.
The image of the sport event was a significant predictor of satisfaction with the
overall event experience. This result is valuable to event organizers, who can maintain
a strong event image by providing the participants with positive experiences that
enhance the organizational, environmental, emotional, social, fulfillment and physical
activity aspects of the event (Kaplanidou, 2006).
Destination image positively influenced intentions to revisit the destination, which
reinforces the importance of destination image as a marketing tool for destination
development. Destination image can be effectively managed through efficient advertis-
ing and public relations, proper management of tourist information offices, travel
agents, tour operators and other promotional instruments such as the Internet
202 K. Kaplanidou & C. Vogt
(Bigne et al., 2001) in association with the event. Creating and sustaining a positive
destination image can also result in increased word-of-mouth activity (Bigne et al.,
2001).
Given the positive impact of past visits on destination image, destination marketers
should customize their marketing communication campaigns for the needs of repeat
visitors to maintain a higher probability of return visitation. For example, the diver-
sification of the tourism product through the use of various sport events, which also
influence the destination image, could be a salient point of attraction for the repeat
visitor. Past experience with the destination was also an indirect predictor of repeat
visitation behaviour (through intentions), which emphasizes the importance of
retaining loyal visitors and the significance of providing quality destination experi-
ences. Finally, event and destination marketers and researchers could utilize measures
of intent as predictor variables of destination re-visitation behaviour but they should
be cautious with the interpretation of the results.

Future Research
Future research might examine perceptions of the event and destination images that
elite sport tourists (i.e. professional athletes) hold, and the ways these images
impact their athletic performance and their intentions to revisit the destination
(Copeland & Hirtler, 2002). Future research should also test the model for recurring
and one-time events targeting both spectators and athletes.
In conclusion, the model tested in this study showed the significant and powerful
impact of sport event image on destination image. The probability of returning to the
destination is higher when the active sport tourists are exposed to the destination
through the event. Intentions were a significant predictor of behaviour.

Limitations of the Findings

This study aimed to test a theoretical model that was not previously tested per se in the
sport and tourism literature. A single population of sport tourists (bicyclists) partici-
pating in a single event and one overnight destination provided the context for the
research. Consequently, the results cannot be generalized to all sport tourists, events
or destinations. At this stage of the research, generalizability was not a necessary
requirement due to the model testing phase of the study (Calder et al., 1981; Lynch,
1999). The results, however, can be used in relationship to branded events, such as
the bike event studied, to target the pertinent sport tourist (in this case the bicyclist).

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